Walkies & antlers

🦌 But first, I had an interesting question about how we distinguish one deer from another. 

• 
  Antler shapes make it easy, if it is a buck. The antlers grow in the same shape each year, although usually one point larger.
• The females are difficult to tell apart.
• Size of the critters.
• Some fawns are bigger than others. 
• The behaviour is the big clue. The 'kings' and 'princes' are the bosses, and bully the others. There is a pecking order. 
• Mammas hang out with their fawns, one doe has twins and we call them The Trio. 

In 2015 I found 5 antlers that year. 

457 grams

    I took Cinnamon for a walk Monday morning. Can you see him?! He led me along the deer path. Critters tend to follow the same path as it makes for easier walking. 

He wanted to go into the wetland, which wasn't so wet, except at the edges. It was quite solid in the middle!

I noticed deer tracks with soil in them. This is why. They all walk on the edge of the wetland, when they don't have to worry about the crunchy snow.

It was really tiring. I stuck to my old snowshoe track, which helped, and found a stick to use as a cane. Back to the house for a rest! The snow is blinding, and really treacherous walking.

I've been watching this tree trunk for months, maybe years.  It has a split in the trunk. The split has widened! I've been watching it, but so far so good.

The snow is so crusty. You can see the shine of the icy top in the sun. The sun, however, is such a treat! I had a client yesterday, and the car sat in the sun. It was quite warm when I got in to come home. We know we are on the way to warmer weather and spring.

You know how animals in rehab are given toys to stimulate their brain cells? I brought the heated cat house in. Cinnamon likes it best. 

We were up to 16 deer. The camera has a bit of a tilt. The sun is so nice!

dawn feeding time from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.